Audio system with removable speaker

ABSTRACT

An audio system for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The audio system is configured to detect the removal of the removable speaker and adjust the audio signal to the fixed speakers so as to maintain the quality of sound within the vehicle. The audio system includes a signal processor configured to detect the presence of the removable speaker. The audio system distributes the frequency transmitted to the removable speaker to the speakers within the automotive vehicle so as to maintain the same sound quality when the removable speaker is removed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

An audio system for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. Moreparticularly, the audio system is configured to transmit a plurality ofaudio signals based upon the destination and vehicle settings so as toprovide a predetermined audio output.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently automotive vehicles are provided with an audio system having asignal processor configured to provide a predetermined audio signal. Theaudio signal is determined by the vehicle setting and the destination ofthe vehicle. In particular, the audio signal may be configured toaccount for vehicle settings (to include the various vehicle interiorcomponents) and the destination of the vehicle so as to provide adesired audio output.

It should be appreciated that materials may affect the audio output.Accordingly, the audio signal is tuned to account for the differentinterior components so as to generate a predetermined and desired audiooutput. Thus, manufacturers provide a plurality of different audiosystems each of which is configured for a specific vehicle type and thedestination of the vehicle type which may result in numerous differentaudio systems.

Accordingly, it remains desirable to have an audio system configured tobe used in multiple vehicles arriving at multiple destinations so as toreduce the number of signal processors available to choose from therebystreamlining the manufacturing process and reducing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An audio system for use in an automotive vehicle configured to generateone of a plurality of different audio outputs is provided. The audiosystem includes a signal processor and a database. The database includesa plurality of audio signals. The audio signals are associated with ageographic region. The geographic region is the region in which thevehicle is destined for sale. The audio system includes an inputconfigured to select one of the geographic regions. The selectedgeographic region and the associated audio signal are transmitted to thesignal processor. The signal processor generates a corresponding audiooutput so as to ensure that the vehicle has an audio output associatedwith the selected geographic region.

An automotive vehicle configured to generate one of a plurality of audiooutputs is also provided. The automotive vehicle includes a signalprocessor and a database. The database includes a plurality of audiosignals stored therein. Each of the audio signals is associated with ageographic region. An input is configured to select one of thegeographic regions wherein the signal processor processes the audiosignal associated with the selected geographic region so as to generatea corresponding audio output.

Further provided herein is a method of manufacturing an automotivevehicle so as to provide the automotive vehicle with an audio outputassociated with the geographic region of the automotive vehicle. Themethod includes the step of providing a signal processor and a database.The database stores a plurality of audio signals. Each of the audiosignals is associated with a respective geographic region. The methodproceeds to the step of providing an input configured to select one ofthe geographic regions. The method proceeds to the step of actuating theinput so as to select the geographic region the automotive vehicle isdestined to be sold in wherein the signal processor processes the audiosignal associated with the selected geographic region so as to generatea corresponding audio output.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplaryin nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by theclaims. The following detailed description of the illustrativeembodiments can be better understood when read in conjunction with thefollowing drawings where like structure is indicated with like referencenumerals and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top-down view of an automotive vehicle showing the audiosystem;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the operation of the system;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing the various geographic regionsand vehicle settings;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing an automotive vehicle destinedfor North America;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing an automotive vehicle destinedfor China;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of an automotive vehicle destined forEurope;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of an automotive vehicle destined forJapan; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the steps for manufacturing an automotivevehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An audio system for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The audiosystem is configured to generate one of a plurality of audio outputs soas to allow vehicles with different interior components and destined fordifferent geographic regions to have a desired audio output. The systemincludes a signal processor such as an amplifier. A database including aplurality of audio signals may be stored in an engine control unit ofthe vehicle. Each of the audio signals is associated with a geographicregion. The system further includes an input configured to select one ofthe geographic regions wherein the signal processor processes the audiosignal associated with the selected geographic region so as to generatea corresponding audio output. Accordingly, the system allowsmanufacturers to install one amplifier for which the signals generatedby the amplifier are provided by a database and which is appropriate tothe interior components of the vehicle and the destination of thevehicle.

With reference now to FIG. 1, an illustrative view of the audio systemis provided. The audio system is mounted within an automotive vehicle.The audio system includes a digital signal processor. The digital signalprocessor may be an amplifier. The digital signal processor processes anelectrical signal and transmits the signals to the speakers shownmounted at various locations of the vehicle. Each signal to a respectivespeaker is configured to provide a predetermined audio output whereinthe collective audio output of a respective speaker provides the systemwith a desired audio output. The database is shown stored in thevehicle's body electronic control unit. The body electronic control is aprocessor configured to process and transmit signals from variouselectronic components. The database includes a plurality of audiosignals. Each of the audio signals is associated with a geographicregion. The audio system may further include an input. The input isconfigured to select one of the geographic regions. Upon actuation ofthe input the signal processor processes the audio signal associatedwith the selected geographic region so as to generate a correspondingaudio output. It should be appreciated that the audio signal is anelectrical signal sent to a respective speaker and taken togetherproduces the audio output. Thus, the electrical signal to a speaker suchas a tweeter may not necessarily be the same as an electrical signaltransmitted to a subwoofer or a woofer.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram showing the operationof the audio system is provided. As shown, the signal processor receivesan audio signal from the body ECU. The audio signal is selected by theinput based upon the geographic region of the vehicle and as describedfurther below may also include the interior components of the vehicle soas to provide the vehicle with a predetermined audio output. Theselected signal is then processed by the signal processor and the signalprocessor transmits a signal to the radio or the speakers to provide thecorresponding audio output.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing the various materials for certain interiorcomponents of the vehicle. It should be appreciated that the vehiclesmay have different components for which different materials are used tomake the components and the different materials provide differentacoustic responses and thus having a common tuning for differentinterior components may result in different sound qualities.Accordingly, the system is configured to provide a plurality of audiosignals based upon the different components within a vehicle and each ofwhich provides the same audio output for a specific geographic region.Thus, FIG. 3 for example shows that the North American geographic regionhas a predetermined audio output which is different than thepredetermined audio output for China, Europe, and Japan. It should alsobe appreciated that the North American audio output may be achieved bydifferent signals which take into consideration the interior components.For example, the audio signal for a seat formed of leather with a softinstrument panel and soft door trim has a first signal designated astuning 1A whereas a vehicle with cloth seats, a soft instrument panel,and soft door covers has an associated audio signal designated as tuning2A. It should be appreciated that a vehicle designated for North Americawill have the same predetermined audio output when the associated tuningis used for the marked interior components. Thus, signals 1A and 2Aproduce the same audio output despite the fact that the signals aredifferent as the signals account for the interior components.Accordingly, the audio system allows the manufacturer to provide asingle or common digital signal processor for each vehicle regardless ofthe differences in interior components and regardless of the destinationof the vehicle. As illustratively shown in FIGS. 4-7, the systemprovides a database which may be written into the electric control unitof the vehicle and an input that selects the appropriate tuning anddestination. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost and process isstreamlined as the manufacturer no longer has to order different digitalsignal processors for each vehicle and does not have to remember whichdigital signal processor is appropriate for a geographic region orvehicle setting.

With reference now to FIG. 8, a method for manufacturing a vehicle isprovided. The method manufactures an automotive vehicle so as to providethe automotive vehicle with an audio output associated with thegeographic region the automotive vehicle is destined for. The methodproceeds with step 1 wherein a signal processor is provided. The signalprocessor may be a digital signal processor such as an amplifier. Themethod proceeds to the step of providing a database. The database isconfigured to store a plurality of audio signals. Each of the pluralityof audio signals is associated with a geographic region. The databasemay be downloaded onto the engine control unit of the automotivevehicle. The method proceeds with the step of providing an input. Theinput is configured to select one of the geographic regions. The methodproceeds to the step of selecting the geographic region the automotivevehicle is destined to be sold in wherein the signal processor processesthe audio signal associated with the selected geographic region so as togenerate a corresponding audio output wherein the selection of thegeographic region is completed before the automotive vehicle leaves themanufacturing facility.

While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein,it should be understood that various other changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedsubject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimedsubject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not beutilized in combination.

I claim:
 1. An audio system for use in an automotive vehicle, the audiosystem configured to generate one of a plurality of audio outputs, theaudio system comprising: a signal processor; a database storing aplurality of audio signals, each of the plurality of audio signalsassociated with one of a plurality of geographic regions; an inputconfigured to select one of the plurality of geographic regions, thesignal processor processing the audio signal associated with theselected geographic region so as to generate a corresponding audiooutput.
 2. The audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of audio signals further is further associated with one of aplurality of vehicle settings, and wherein the input is configured toselect one of the plurality of geographic regions and one of theplurality of associated vehicle settings, the signal processorprocessing the audio signal associated with the selected geographicregion and associated vehicle setting so as to generate a correspondingaudio output.
 3. The audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein theplurality of geographic regions include North America, South America,Europe, China, and Japan.
 4. The audio system as set forth in claim 3,wherein the associated vehicle setting includes at least one from thelist of associated vehicle setting consisting of: a material make-up ofthe seats, a material make-up of the instrument panel and a materialmake-up of the doors.
 5. An automotive vehicle configured to generateone of a plurality of audio outputs, the automotive vehicle comprising:a signal processor; a database storing a plurality of audio signals,each of the plurality of audio signals associated with one of aplurality of geographic regions; an input configured to select one ofthe plurality of geographic regions, the signal processor processing theaudio signal associated with the selected geographic region so as togenerate a corresponding audio output.
 6. The automotive vehicle as setforth in claim 5, wherein the signal processor is integrated into a bodyelectronic control unit.
 7. The automotive vehicle as set forth in claim6, wherein each of the plurality of audio signals further is furtherassociated with a vehicle setting, and wherein the input is configuredto select one of the geographic regions and an associated vehiclesetting, the signal processor processing the audio signal associatedwith the selected geographic region and associated vehicle setting so asto generate a corresponding audio output.
 8. The automotive vehicle asset forth in claim 7, wherein the geographic regions include NorthAmerica, South America, Europe, China, and Japan.
 9. The automotivevehicle as set forth in claim 8, wherein the associated vehicle settingsinclude at least one from the list of associated vehicle settingsconsisting of: the material make-up of the seats, the material make-upof the instrument panel and the material make-up of the doors.
 10. Amethod of manufacturing an automotive vehicle so as to provide theautomotive vehicle with an audio output associated with the geographicregion of the automotive vehicle, the method comprising the step of:providing a signal processor; providing a database storing a pluralityof audio signals, each of the plurality of audio signals associated witha geographic region; providing an input configured to select one of aplurality of geographic regions; selecting one of the plurality ofgeographic regions the automotive vehicle is destined to be sold in, thesignal processor processing the audio signal associated with theselected geographic region so as to generate a corresponding audiooutput.
 11. The method of manufacturing an automotive vehicle as setforth in claim 10, wherein the signal processor is integrated into abody electronic control unit.
 12. The method of manufacturing anautomotive vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of theplurality of audio signals further is further associated with a vehiclesetting, and wherein the input is configured to select one of thegeographic regions and an associated vehicle setting, the signalprocessor processing the audio signal associated with the selectedgeographic region and associated vehicle setting so as to generate acorresponding audio output.
 13. The method of manufacturing anautomotive vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein the geographicregions include North America, South America, Europe, China, and Japan.14. The method of manufacturing an automotive vehicle as set forth inclaim 13, wherein the associated vehicle settings include at least onefrom the list of associated vehicle settings consisting of: a materialmake-up of the seats, a material make-up of the instrument panel and amaterial make-up of the doors.